January 11, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Reading I Heb 2:14-18, Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9, Gospel Mk 1:29-39
During the pandemic, stories about people helping one another came out through mainstream and social media. They were just simple, everyday working people who went out of their way to help others to cope with the pandemic. They offered free rides for those walking home because there was no public transport, some kind souls distributed alcohol and face masks for free to the poor, some gave away food packs, medicines and vitamins to delivery riders and yet these individuals did not have much for themselves. A group of teenagers bathed, clothed and fed a very old man who had no one with him. At the end of these stories, they were not quite satisfied with their good deeds. All of them wished that they could have done more.
But I bet God would have been so proud of them because they were living out what His Son, Jesus, had taught. They did what they were supposed to do.
In the First Reading, it is said there that “surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way.” These good hearted people knew these people needed help because they know how it feels like to have nothing, to suffer, to be helpless. They were not rich or were famous, they just knew in their hearts that they had to extend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters.
Jesus knew that a lot of people were looking for Him because they want to be cured from their physical or spiritual illnesses. He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”
Christ knew about His purpose on earth. Those good Samaritans knew why they were there at the time when they were needed the most. They could have been more protective of what they had left for their own security and kept their food and medicines for themselves. Jesus could have just hid himself from the people to rest because Simon said “everyone is looking for you.”
But instead, he prayed. And these people, at the end of their stories, they uttered a prayer not only for themselves but also for those whom they helped. I guess they have found their purpose in this world.
What is yours?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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